In the US, after-dark road accidents result in 54% of car-crash fatalities, even though there are far fewer cars on the road. Limited visibility plays a significant role in these nighttime collisions, which is why it’s so important to keep your headlights in excellent condition at all times. Let’s take a look at how to maintain your GMC headlights. If your headlights are worn out, a technician at your local GMC dealership can promptly install new headlights.
The Secret to Long-Lasting Headlights for Your GMC
Keep Your Headlight Lenses Clean
Over time, dirt, dust, insects, smog, and grime can build up on headlight lenses. This gradually lessens their brightness, putting you at risk on the road.
To combat this, you can wipe down your headlight lenses with a damp microfiber cloth at least once a week. Clean them even more frequently if you live in a particularly dusty environment.
Replace Cloudy or Hazy Lenses
As they’re positioned at the front of your car, headlight lenses can become scratched by stones thrown up from the road. Eventually, a buildup of myriad scratches can cause the light to become hazy.
The polymers used in headlight lenses can also become oxidized by the UV rays in sunlight, which causes the light to slowly become cloudy and yellow in hue. If your headlight lenses have become excessively damaged in either of these ways, have them replaced without delay.
Always Get New Headlights in Pairs
When one headlight bulb fails, the other is rarely far behind and may already be starting to fade. For this reason, it’s best to replace both bulbs in a pair when one of them stops working. With this proactive attitude, you’re less likely to be caught out by a suddenly dying bulb.
Make Sure Your Headlights Are Aligned
Headlights should always be pointing in the same direction. But occasionally, bumps over curbs, potholes, or parking stanchions can dislodge a headlight, misaligning it. This might be hard to notice unless you pay close attention and have your headlights realigned.
Always Ensure Maximum Brightness
Most headlight bulbs begin to fade for a while before they die. They might also sometimes flicker erratically. Don’t be tempted to continue driving with a bulb that’s starting to fail in any way. Even a slight lessening in brightness can reduce your ability to react quickly to road dangers after dark.
Ask Your GMC Dealer To Test Your Bulbs
It’s not always easy to tell if a headlight bulb is starting to fade. You can always ask a trusted technician at your local dealership to inspect and test the voltage of individual bulbs for you.
Visit Pierre GMC of Everett in Everett, WA, today to have your headlights examined or replaced. We’re a locally trusted full-service dealership providing the region’s drivers with excellent vehicles, deals, financing, and customer care.
Connect with us
